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Ruling Imminent on Motion to Dismiss Texas Book Rating Law
A second day of arguments was heard in federal court in Austin over a motion by a consortium of booksellers and book business organizations to block HB 900, Texas's controversial new book rating law.
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The Week in Libraries: August 25, 2023
Among the week's headlines: bomb threats are made against librarians in Illinois and Oklahoma; Texas leaves the ALA, with Wyoming headed that way, too; and Washington State Librarian Sara Jones offers a powerful defense of librarians.
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New PEN America Report Documents Surge in ‘Educational Intimidation’ Bills
A new wave of legislation is leading to censorship in schools and libraries by creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for educators.
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Judge Sets Second Hearing on Motion to Block Texas Book Rating Law
In the initial round of oral arguments over whether to block Texas's controversial book rating law, federal judge Alan D. Albright primarily challenged the state's position, and said he would issue a ruling before the law's September 1 effective date.
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The Week in Libraries: August 11, 2023
Among the week's headlines: librarians, educators, and publishers grapple with new state book banning laws; bestselling author John Green responds to having his books pulled from library shelves; a proposed judgment has been filed in the Internet Archive copyright case; and PEN America publishes a report on self-censorship in the publishing industry.
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As New Law Looms, Follett Asks Publishers to Help ‘Rate’ Their Own Books for Sale in Texas
With a lawsuit pending to block a controversial new "book rating" law from taking effect in Texas, publishers and industry groups are balking at a request from the nation's largest school distributor to help rate their own titles for sale in the state.
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The Week in Libraries: August 4, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a major victory for freedom to read advocates in Arkansas; a motion to block Texas's new 'book rating' law gets a speedy hearing date; the Michigan Library Association recruits advocates for its freedom to read initiative; and a look at the Brooklyn Public Library's teen council.
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Federal Judge Blocks Parts of Arkansas ‘Harmful to Minors’ Law
Judge Timothy L. Brooks's 49-page opinion and order concluded that the law would "permit, if not encourage, library committees and local governmental bodies to make censorship decisions based on content or viewpoint," thus violating the First Amendment.
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The Week in Libraries: July 28, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a coalition of booksellers and publishing industry groups sue Texas over the state's new book rating law; a judge in Arkansas is set to rule on a motion to block that state's 'harmful to minors' law from taking effect; and a Houston school district's plan to replace its libraries with 'discipline centers' draws criticism from city leaders.
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The Week in Libraries: July 21, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Barack Obama offers his support to librarians; Missouri's Jay Ashcroft is now taking aim at ALA; a Utah poll finds voters oppose book banning; and the protest at U.C. Berkeley's anthropology library has ended.
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DPLA Launches ‘Geo-targeted’ Banned Book Club via Palace E-book App
The new program utilizes GPS-based “geo-targeting” to show readers the books that have been banned in their area, making e-book versions available to borrow digitally.
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The Week in Libraries: July 14, 2023
Among the week's headlines: The Montana State Library Commission pulls out of the ALA; Republican North Carolina lawmakers introduce a 'frightening' new parental rights bill; and a sprawling exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library celebrates the life and work of Jay-Z.
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The Week in Libraries: July 7, 2023
Among the week's headlines: Emily Amick (@emilyinyourphone) on why books bans are about more than books; why a new Texas law is a nightmare for publishers and book vendors; and the Queens Public Library celebrates 50 years of hip hop with a new library card.
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The Library Community Rallies Around the Freedom to Read
The 2023 American Library Association Annual Conference concluded on June 27 in Chicago, with the ALA reporting a solid bump in turnout over 2022; the library community united with a clear stand against censorship.
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The Week in Libraries: June 30, 2023
Among the week's headlines: a resurgent ALA Annual Conference closes in Chicago; a Georgia teacher is fired for reading an inclusive book to her students; how libraries are catering to remote workers; and New York City libraries are spared from budget cuts.
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ALA 2023: Gorman and Robinson Tell Librarians, 'It's Okay to Be Sad'
ALA 2023 wrapped up Tuesday with an uplifting keynote featuring poet Amanda Gorman and children's book illustrator Christian Robinson, who discussed how people can harness their grief to effect change in the world.
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ALA 2023: Experts and Allies Supply Librarians with Information and Tools to Fight Censorship
The professional program at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference was packed with information to help librarians and advocates battle book bans and other challenges to the freedom to read.
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ALA, AAP Reaffirm Landmark Freedom to Read Statement on 70th Anniversary
First adopted in 1953, the reaffirmation this week comes amid an unprecedented surge in book challenges and legislative attacks on the freedom to read.
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ALA 2023: Judy Blume Offers a Rousing Defense of the Freedom to Read
Keynoting a resurgent ALA Annual Conference, the author talked about her experiences with book banning in the 1980s and thanked librarians for their ardent defense of banned books.
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